Dr. James W. Holsinger, Jr., M.D., Ph.D. currently serves as Charles T. Wethington Jr. Chair in the Health Sciences at the University of Kentucky. His faculty appointments include Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health and Health Services Management in the College of Public Health; and Internal Medicine, Surgery, and Anatomy in the College of Medicine. Dr. Holsinger returned to the University faculty on December 10, 2005, following a two-year appointment as Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services of the Commonwealth of Kentucky following his appointment by Governor Ernie Fletcher on December 9, 2003. In his role as Secretary, Dr. Holsinger had responsibility at the executive level for the management of the state’s health and social services programs including the Medicaid program, Public Health system, Department for Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services and Department for Community Based Services, as well as several commissions.

He graduated from Duke University Medical School in 1964. Dr. Holsinger has served in a variety of academic and administrative appointments at several universities as well as the federal government. Dr. Holsinger served for 26 years in the Department of Veterans Affairs, retiring on July 13, 1994. His career culminated in his appointment by the President of the United States as Chief Medical Director of the Veterans Health Administration on August 6, 1990. In 1992, he became Undersecretary for Health, Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Holsinger, likewise, served for over 31 years in the United States Army Reserve, with his Reserve career culminating with his assignment to the Joint Staff as Assistant to the Director for Logistics in 1989, and his promotion to Major General in 1990. Dr. Holsinger retired from the United States Army Reserve in 1993.

Research Interests

Public Health Policy, National and International

Public Health Leadership

Public Health Decision-making

Ethical and Moral Administrative Decision-making

University of Kentucky College of Public Health

111 Washington Avenue, Lexington, KY 40536
Phone: (859) 257-5678

As a component of Kentucky’s land grant institution, the Mission of the College of Public Health at the University of Kentucky is to apply comprehensive health approaches to understand better and to help reduce the burdens and disparities of health problems on individuals, families and communities.